MBTA chief to become new transportation secretary (WBUR, Boston Metro, CommonWealth Magazine, Cambridge Chronicle)
By Kimberly Adams -- Come Sept. 1, there will be a new boss at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MBTA General Manager Richard Davey will take over from the current MassDOT secretary, Jeffrey Mullan. In his new post, Davey will be responsible for Massachusetts highways, public transportation and airports.More coverage below...

Cambridge bike sharing program moving closer to reality (Cambridge Chronicle)
By Scott Wachtler -- The Hubway Bicycle Sharing program that launched in Boston last week came a step closer to coming to Cambridge Monday night. City councilors unanimously voted to approve several items related to the program that will pave the way to its implementation in the fall. One item will allow for the zoning of the bicycle racks, while another item urges the governor, the Cambridge legislative delegation and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to back up police officers who write tickets to bicyclists who commit violations. Related: Salem set to launch free bike-share program (Boston Globe)

The federal gas tax is likely safe for now: And that's the problem (Washington Post, CNN Money, Infrastructurist)
By Ezra Klein -- Despite recent rumors to the contrary, Congress is likely to extend the gas tax this fall. And that could end up being precisely the problem. [Last] week, Politico’s Ben Smith and Byron Tau raised the possibility that Republicans could try to thwart an extension of the federal gas tax when it (largely) expires Sept. 30.Related: Massachusetts gas tax debate (CommonWealth Magazine, CommonWealth Magazine)

Poll: Bicycle helmets should not be compulsory (The Telegraph, British Medical Journal)
By Raf Sanchez -- If people are forced to wear helmets they may give up cycling altogether and lose the health benefits of regular exercise, doctors warned. More than two thirds of the respected journal's readers said they opposed compulsory helmets for adults. One respondent in the poll of 1,427 people said: "It gives out the message that cycling is dangerous, which it is not.... Cycling is a healthy activity and cyclists live longer on average than non-cyclists." Related: Bike rental schemes 'saving lives in cities' (The Independent, Boston Globe)